New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1887-06-08
CAPT, WEATHERBY'S GIFT,

i -
Capt. Wetherby's. The captain and
his wife We're sitting in front of the
coal hire in the back parlor, waiting till
1t should be safe to leave, and seeing
many queer things in the glowing ASH
es. Ihe 'help''-theydo not keep ser
vants-had gone to bed, and the house
was shut up for the night. No one was
expected, and it was too late for callers,
SO there was mutual start of alarm
on the part of the pair when the door
bell rang in that sudden way.
Tingg-a-ling-a-lipgg- a-ling- a-ling! s
IL was quite ghostly: Mrs. Wealth
erby said:
Mercy me, who is there, do you sup
pose?''
..Like as not its a telegram, = replied
the captain.
Then he went to the door. The wire
of that indigant bell was still vibrating,
and the tongue itself had just stopped
wagging, and yet when the captain
opened the door. not soul was visible.
The soft, light flakes Of the last snow of
the season drifted into his face, and fell
cold and wet on his cheeks. Mrs
Weatherby was close behind, and ex-
claimed:
"Mercy me!Hlt was nobody
''Not even the cat" said her hus-
band. cold Prim can do sight Of
mischief, but she can't ring door-bells.
1T was some pesky boy, I7suppose, who
thought he d play smart and then run
for it.
whats that on the door-step?" ask
ed Mrs. Weatherby, suddenly.
''It's a drift said the captain. Il
tell you what, Mary, there'll be
'aor'-easter tonight, nor'east by nor,
with wind that II make the sails rat
tie. It's gettin' up now,'' and he drew
TN his uncovered head, and was about
TO shut the hall door.
t'There is something down there, ST.
las" said his wife, ''right on the top
step. Looks just like a big bundle.''
The captain peered out again. "
'lt's right you are my hearty. Sure
as you live it's basket" and he touch
ed it with his foot.
&'Oh, it's the groceries for to-mor-
row; that careless boy forgot them. No
wonder he ran away when he rang the
bell! Fetch 'em in, Silas, and leave
them in the back parlor tonight. Han
nah will see them the first thing in the
Fnorning!'
s'Better take them into the caboose-
{ mean the Kitchen" said the captain.
*tNo; it's locked up. Put 'em on
'shat chair by the door. Ugh! I'm
shiverin' with the cold air. and the
good woman sat down in front of the
comfortable Goals again.
s'We've heap to be thankful for,
Mary" said the captain thong htfully.
Eye S, l s'pose so,'' sighed his wife;
she was thinking just then of two little
graves at Marblehead. They had been
made nigh on to twenty years ago, and
the vacancy in her heart and life had
never been filled.
At that moment a queer little wailing
cry rang through the room. The two
started and looked at each other
e'sakes alive! Why what was that?"
asked Mrs. Weatherby.
''It came out of that basket" said
the captain; ''that fool OF boy has
been and slowed a hand in the TO- cas-
sle-I mean a kitten" and he stalked
over to it and jerked off the cover.
'sBy the great horn spoon!'' he ex-
sslaimed, as he jumped back about four
ateet; it's a babyr'
4eMercy me" said his wife; s'Where
did it come from?''
sTrom the skies, I should say: that S
what the bell rang for. Well, I must
say this is an imposition
Mrs. Weatherby was looking curl
Snusay into the basket; all she saw was
rags, two bright smiling eyes, and a
little round head covered with dark
hair-a wee bit of baby, deserted and
alone.
I'll 60 for the police" said the cap
tain angrily; ''shiver my timbers if
I'm going to have people starving their
babies on my doorstep when there's
places provided for them as are desti-
tute. The police will make short work
of it, Mary
1'They won't kill it, will they?" ask
ed kind Mrs. Weatherby in a Mortified
tone. =
s.Well, No, wife; that's against the
law. But they'll take it where such
waves Che meant waifs) belong. Ii
you amt afraid to stay alone I'll run
out TO the next corner,and fetch one.
When the captain returned with the
policeman he had to stop to. explain the
exact spot where they found the basket,